Since 2006, Visualiza Clínica Médica Oftalmológica (known simply as “Visualiza”) in Guatemala has been one of Seva’s key partners in the Latin American region. Visualiza recently hosted a Seva learning exchange with Kaiser-Permanente.
Six ophthalmologists from the Permanente Medical Group, Northern California traveled to Guatemala City. Each doctor focused on a different specialty. Visiting doctors shadowed the local doctors, consulted on difficult cases, lectured on key developments in eye care in their speciality, and learned about the challenges and nuances that doctors in the Global South face on a day-to-day basis.
Visualiza serves patients in Guatemala City, as well as the traditionally underserved rural region of Petén. Through its partnership with Seva via our Global Sight Initiative (GSI), Visualiza also serves as a "mentor hospital” to five “mentee hospitals” throughout Latin America. As a mentor hospital, Visualiza helps mentee clinics develop their community outreach, surgical, HR and hospital management skills to meet the high demand for quality eye care services.
In October, doctors from Visualiza will be in the United States, training with their Kaiser colleagues as part of our exchange program. Additionally, thanks to your support, Seva will fund free eye surgeries for low-income Guatemalans at Visualiza as part of our World Sight Day efforts.
